Herbs that you can grow in winter

All these herbs can be grown in your garden beds, or in pots or containers. It’s recommended that mint is always grown in a pot unless you’ll be happy for it to take over your garden!

Rosemary

• Plant in full sun in well-drained soil and don’t over water.  
• Will grow well in pots or in your garden beds.  
• Give it an annual application of controlled-release fertiliser.
• Drought tolerant but needs watering during dry periods.
• As well as being a great addition when cooking, rosemary can also be trimmed to form a hedge.

Mint

• It’s best to grow mint in a pot as the roots spread and it can soon become invasive.  
• Mint will perform best in rich, moist soil or premium-quality potting mix, but it will grow in virtually any type of soil.  

• Mint needs to be kept moist and can only tolerate drying out for short periods.
• Snip leaves and stems as you need them, removing any flower heads to help prolong the harvest season.   

Thyme

• Thyme is a great edging, rockery, or pot plant, growing 30 centimetres high with pink or white flowers in spring.
• Plant in free draining soil, enriched with compost and well-aged manure, in full sun.
• Water while becoming established, or when the soil is dry.
• Thyme is almost maintenance free, but an application of liquid fertiliser in spring will be beneficial.
• There are also lemon-scented and variegated varieties.  

Sage

• In a pot, plant in premium potting mix.
• In the garden improve soil with compost and decomposed manure before planting.
• Plant in a sunny spot and it may need extra water in summer.  
• An annual application of compost as mulch will usually provide plenty of nutrients.
• Sage can be prone to mildew if left in full shade or damp conditions.

Oregano

• Grows well in most well-drained soils or premium potting mixes, in full sun to part shade.
• Improve the soil with a little compost and decomposed manure prior to planting. 
• Mulch to prevent weed growth and water well to settle the soil in around the roots.  
• Oregano is low maintenance and only needs to be watered when the soil dries out.  

Bay tree

• A fragrant, low-maintenance shrub with dark green glossy foliage used as a culinary herb.
• Bay doesn’t need feeding regularly but apply a controlled-release fertiliser annually in very poor soil.
• Bay prefers full sun to part shade and can grow 1-2m high and 1.5-2m wide.  
• A bay tree is a great solution for difficult spots with poor soil.
• It is drought tolerant once established.  

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